Story Tags

city of light city of poison

Sepia-toned Scandal

Infamy is Timeless

Are the news cycles causing intrigue fatigue? It may be a little (cold) comfort to know that constant tumult is not unique to our time. In fact, the outrageous and the shocking have always peppered human history. Plus, reading disreputable stories about long-dead people can be more palatable than continually processing the 24-hour news cycle. Some titles for those with an interest in the bad old days.

Lean Logic

Confronting Limits to Growth

Economics and Culture in a Post-Growth World

Goals of economic growth often go unquestioned in mainstream economic theory and in platforms across the political spectrum. But the books below argue compellingly that unlimited growth on a finite planet is impossible long-term. Many contemporary ecological, economic, and political crises indicate that the industrial growth economy is hitting hard limits.

It's your world

I'm Gonna ACTivism UP!

Being Bold, Courageous and Powerful

It's your world--if you don't like it, change it: activism for teenagers by Mikki Halpin is a captivating and encouraging look into the present and future potential that young people across the world have harnessed with their voices and activism.  Halpin reveals to the reader that your time is now. If you want to change the world, DO IT!

Wolf Hall cover

You Saw It On "Masterpiece"

The public television series Masterpiece delivers both original shows and literary adaptations to PBS on a regular basis, and, arguably, those shows are some of the most quality programming you can find: compelling acting, excellent writing, sensuous costuming, and lush scenes of the British countryside. Nobody does rolling hillsides like Masterpiece does! Check out the literary origins of these particular shows, which are even better – hard to believe, right? – than their television counterparts.

Potomac River cover

Outdoors Mid-Atlantic

Enjoy exploring the outdoors in the mid-Atlantic region!  Whether you go by foot, bike, canoe, or car, you'll have lots of fun and see fantastic views. The featured books below are available from the library system.

The Invention of Murder book cover

Blood, Bullets, and Bones

Death and How We Deal With It

There's that old saying that there are only two sure things in life: death and taxes. Well now, that tax season is coming to a close, I present a collection of non-fiction that I found fascinating about our ever-evolving relationships with death, as individuals and as a society - from how we mourn or celebrate our dead to how we solve and deal with murder. Because although taxes may be a sure thing too, doing them is far less interesting than the following books:

How to Be a Victorian

So You Want to Be a Victorian?

Nonfiction Books on Life in Victorian Times

There's something about the Victorian era that so many people - myself included - find enchanting and idyllic. I feel like every time that old cocktail party question "If you had to live in a different time period, which would you choose?" comes up, several people always gush "Ohh, Victorian London, definitely." Full disclosure: I have for sure been one of those gushing people at times. But then I thought Ehhh, would I really want to?

The Lady and Her Monsters cover

Nonfiction for the English Major in All of Us

or Literary History

Delve into the history around some of your favorite literary works, figures, and time periods. Ever wonder how so many great authors and works of literature came to be? These books will take you on a journey of literary history.  

Ex Libris cover

Challenge Accepted: Read Harder 2017

Challenge #3: Read a book about books

A new year means new year resolutions and challenges. One reading challenge that I love to do is Book Riot’s 2017 Read Harder challenge. Instead of having people focus on a specific number of books, Read Harder challenges people to read different genres or authors that they may overlook.

Cover image of the book The Story of Buildings

Self-Contained Universes

A history of architecture, real and imagined

What would the world be like without the Empire State Building? Or the Statue of Liberty? Would World War II have gone differently if Chartres Cathedral had never been built? 

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